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G4TNU > NEWS 11.05.11 17:54l 246 Lines 12533 Bytes #999 (0) @ EU
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Subj: RSGB Main News - 15 May
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GB2RS Main News for Sunday 15th May 2011
The news headlines:
* New Amateur Radio Observation Service appointment
* SDR club launched
* New US 4m band beacon
At the last Board meeting, Brian Reay, G8OSN was appointed to lead
the Amateur Radio Observation Service. The Board would like to thank
his predecessor Tony Selmes, G4KLF, who has retired from the post
after many years managing the service. AROS is an advisory and
reporting service of the RSGB that is intended to assist radio
amateurs and others who may be affected by problems that occur within
the amateur bands or that develop on other frequencies as a result of
amateur transmissions. The service investigates reports of licence
infringements, or instances of poor operating practice that might
bring the amateur service into disrepute. Reports, complaints and
associated supplementary information are accepted from any source and
the content of each communication is regarded as confidential
material. Brian has e-mailed all Observers for whom he has a current
e-mail address. If you are an Observer and have not received an
e-mail from Brian regarding his appointment, please e-mail him on
aros<at>rsgb.org.uk. Those interested in becoming an Observer should
contact Brian on using this e-mail address.
A new online Software Defined Radio Club has been launched by Adrian,
2E0SDR and can be found at www.softwaredefinedradio.co.uk. The idea
is to create a global community dedicated to the technology of
software defined radio and membership is free. The site is being run
as a dedicated portal with all members being able to add content to
the site.
70MHz is not an amateur band in the USA, but European stations may
try to listen for a new 4 metre band Radio Science E-skip
Trans-Atlantic propagation beacon from the East Coast of the US. Its
operating frequency is 70.005MHz. WE9XUP is located at FM07fm and
transmits CW. Any amateur or SWL reports are welcome via e-mail to
WA1ZMS<at>ARRL.NET. The beacon is scheduled to run 24 hours a day
until 1 September.
Bletchley Park Trust has opened a new exhibition commemorating the
70th anniversary of the capture of an Enigma machine and codebooks
from German U-boat 110 that took place 70 years ago. The exhibition
contains photographs of the capture and it is the first time all
known photos have been exhibited together at the same time. The
exhibition tells the full story including many of the details that
appeared in the best selling book on the capture of the Enigma code.
For visitor information, contact 01908 640404, or go to
www.bletchleypark.org.uk.
Illegal church broadcasts have been heard on 28.265MHz in Germany and
amateurs are requested to listen on this frequency in order to
identify the location. Please send any reports to Ger McNamara,
EI4GXB, IARU Monitoring System Co-ordinator by e-mail to
ei4gxb<at>gmail.com.
AMSAT-UK is now active on Twitter. AMSAT-UK is a voluntary
organisation that supports the design and building of equipment for
amateur radio satellites. You can find AMSAT-UK on Twitter as
<at>AMSAT_UK.
And now for the details of rallies and events for the coming week
Today, Sunday 15 May, sees the National Vintage Communications Fair
taking place at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, The Fosse, Fosse
Way, Leamington Spa CV31 1XN. Doors open at 10am and there is free
car parking on site. Entry is GBP 6 and there will be plenty of trade
stands and special interest groups as well as catering services.
Details by e-mail from info<at>nvcf.org.uk.
The 1st Leicester RS Grand Clearance and Bring & Buy will be held on
22 May at the Leicester Radio Society HQ, Groby Road, Leicester.
There is approximately GBP 2000 of donated radio equipment for
disposal as well as a Bring & Buy. Doors open 10am to 4pm. Details of
equipment available and further details from Alex on 0753 120 1640.
Also on 22 May, the Dunstable Downs Radio Club National Amateur Radio
Car Boot Sale will be held at Stockwood Park, Luton LU1 5NR. Talk in
will be on S22 and there is plenty of car parking. Doors open at 9am
and entry is GBP 2.
Sunday 22 May sees the Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club Rally and Boot
Sale take place at Drumgor Youth Centre, Drumgor Heights, Craigavon,
BT65 4AP. Doors open at 11am and there is plenty of car prking on
site. There will be a Bring & Buy.
John, 2E0XER and Jem, 2E0JEM are holding a Vintage Military Amateur
Radio Society event on Saturday 21 May in a field at the village of
Libbery, about eight miles East of Worcester on the A422 Stratford
Road. Visitors are welcome to join them. Any experimental equipment
is welcomed and all those old antennas that have been in the loft or
shed for the last 30 years will have an opportunity of getting the
dust blown off them! Visitors should make their own food provision,
although there is expected to be a military field kitchen on site for
the weekend. The event coincides with the Saturday morning VMARS AM
net with the opportunity to operate and make contacts. For further
information please contact Jem on 07711 162322 or e-mail
info<at>wraa.co.uk.
Now for the news of special events
In commemoration of the 617 Squadron Dambusters raid, on Monday 16
May, the Lincoln Short Wave Club will be operating on the 80m band as
near to 3.617MHz as conditions allow. The transmissions will commence
at precisely 2139; this is the time the first wave of nine Lancaster
bombers took off. Transmissions will cease at 0139, the time the
Mohne Dam was breached. There will be a limited edition QSL card sent
to all contacts.
May 2011 will be the month for chasing castles and stately homes on
air. The weekend of the 21st and 22nd will be the international
castles weekend from 1am on the 21st to 11pm on the 22nd. For UK
stations, information can be found at www.cashota.co.uk as well as
links to regional activity. The website now allows interested
amateurs to complete activation forms online.
The Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society will run a special event
station at the open day of HMS Collingwood on Saturday 4 June. The
callsign to be used is GB6COD, Collingwood Open Day. The station will
be operational on all amateur bands from 1.8MHz to 440MHz. The
Society headquarters station will be open for viewing from 9.30am to
6pm on the day. A number of demonstrations will be taking place using
amateur radio and amateur television. The open day will feature the
Royal Navy Field Gun Competition. Additional attractions will include
a display from the Royal Marines Band, Collingwood, a free fun fair
and much more. Advanced tickets will be available from Gosport and
Fareham Tourist Information Offices and Portsmouth News Offices from
May 2011.
And now the HF DX news compiled from 425 DX News and other sources
Glasgow and Clyde RAYNET Group will be active on the Island of Jura,
which is IOTA reference EU008, from 26 May to 2 June. The group is
providing Emergency Safety comms for the Annual Fell Race on Saturday
28 May but will also be activating the island on all HF bands using
GS0RAY/P throughout the week. Reports are most welcome. For further
details please contact Paul Lucas on 07768 271736 or e-mail
mm3ddq<at>yahoo.co.uk.
Over the weekend 20 to 22 May, Kev, M0TNX will activate Hilbre
Island, IOTA reference EU120. Wirral Council has given Kev the
opportunity to stay overnight on this uninhabited Island. The
callsign for this event will be GB2HI and operation will be on SSB
but CW is available on request. The bands in use will be 40, 20 and
17m only and a commemorative QSL card will be available. Charles,
M0OXO, has kindly offered to be QSL manager and the QSL cards are
being undertaken by Gennady at UX5UO print.
Macquarie Island is one of the rarer DXCC entities and in recent
times there has been some activity from Kevin, VK0KEV. The good news
now is that Kevin will be joined by Denis, ZL4DB who will be active
from there as VK0/ ZL4DB until late July. Denis is new to DXing and
will only be able to operate during his spare time.
Phil, F4EGS will be active as TT8PK from Chad until 15 June. He will
be on the air in his spare time. QSL via F4EGS either direct or via
the bureau.
Joe, W5FJG is now on Midway Island, which is IOTA reference OC-030.
He is working on the island as the Chief Communications Officer for
at least a year. He plans to be active as KH4/W5FJG, starting the
last week in May. Activity will be on 10 to 40m bands using CW, SSB
and digital modes.
A few Italian amateurs will be operating from Lampedusa in the
Pelagie Islands using the callsign IG9E from 18 to 23 May. QSL via
IZ2GMT either direct or via the bureau.
Now the contest news
The Worked All Britain LF Phone contest takes place today, Sunday 15
May, from 1000 to 1400UTC. The exchange is signal report, serial
number and WAB square. Full details of the rules and logsheets may be
obtained from the WAB website at www.worked-all-britain.co.uk or from
the Contest Manager, G3XKT by e-mail to aebbooks<at>ntlworld.com.
On 17 May the 1.3GHz UK Activity Contest will take place from 1900 to
2130UTC. Using all modes the exchange is signal report, serial number
and locator.
The CW leg of the 80m Club Championships will take place from 1900 to
2030UTC on 19 may. The exchange is signal report and serial number.
The May 144MHz Activity Contest takes place on 21 and 22 May from
1400 to 1400UTC. The timing coincides with first three hours of the
four-hour First 144MHz Backpackers Contest, which is the contest
where the low power enthusiasts head for the hills. The exchange for
both events is signal report, serial number and locator, with the UK
Activity Contest also exchanging postcode information.
And now the solar factual data for the period from the 2nd to the 8th
of May, compiled by Neil Clarke, G0CAS on the 9th of May
Several sunspot groups were visible every day. In fact, there as only
been one spotless day so far this year and that was on the 27th of
January. Solar activity started at low levels when a C1 class solar
flare took place on the 2nd and the 3rd. Activity declined to very
low levels for the remained of the period. Solar flux levels declined
from 110 units on the 2nd to 102 by the 6th. The average was 105
units. The 90 day solar flux average on the 8th was 110, that's two
units up on last week. X-ray flux levels showed little variation and
averaged B2 units. Geomagnetic activity started at active levels due
to a recurring coronal hole that lasted longer than forecast. The
most disturbed day was the 2nd with an Ap index of 20 units. The
average was Ap 8 units. Solar wind data from the ACE spacecraft saw
solar wind speeds decline from 730 kilometres per second to 280 by
the 8th. Particle densities were very low throughout. Densities were
no more than 3 particles per cubic centimetre. Bz varied between
minus 6 and plus 4 nanoTeslas on some days but with smaller
variations on the quieter days.
And now the solar forecast. This week the slightly more active side
of the Sun is expected to be looking our way. Solar activity is
expected to be low for most of the week but there is a slight chance
that activity could increase to moderate levels if any M class solar
flares take place. Solar flux levels should be between 110 and 120
units. Geomagnetic activity should be quiet everyday but could be
unsettled today and tomorrow due to a coronal hole. MUFs during
daylight hours at equal latitudes should be around 23MHz for the
south and 20MHz for the north. Darkness hour lows should be about
12MHz. Paths this week to South America should have a maximum usable
frequency with a 50 per cent success rate of around 28MHz. The
optimum working frequency with a 90 per cent success rate will be
about 22MHz. Even though the band will be open earlier and later than
the times quoted these though are the best time to try this path and
will be between 1400 and 2000 hours. Sporadic-E should take place on
some days with openings including 50MHz also.
And that's all for this week from the propagation team.
And that's the end of the main news for this week prepared by the
Radio Society of Great Britain. Items for inclusion in subsequent
bulletins can be emailed to gb2rs<at>rsgb.org.uk to arrive by
10:00 on the Tuesday before transmission.
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